Kano Emirate and the Gathering Storms

No nation last forever. No empire exists for eternity. No ruler or leader lives endlessly. Everything and everyone comes and goes.

With the exception of God, the Supreme Being who rules in the affairs of men, we are all transient agents, but what we do while we live become history tomorrow.

Leaders must therefore know that power is a transient commodity that will outlive its users. From the Biblical accounts to the Quran records, no leader or power has survived mortality.

Where is Pharaoh and Nebucadenezer of the Bible days? Even King Solomon with all his wisdom and wealth didn't live perpetually. 

The experience in the modern world also lends credence to it. At a time in history, the fear of Benito Mussolini of Italy and Adolf Hitler of Germany was the beginning of wisdom. How about Samuel Doe of Liberia? Abacha of Nigeria and not too long, Mugabe of Zimbabwe?

Since the advent of this Republic, we have seen Governors who once ruled with iron fists now the jokes of town? We have seen leaders who were once ears of the presidency languishing in jails. There have been leaders who rose to opulence now bedridden.

Nothing and nobody lasts forever. The event in Kano State and Kano Emirate is one of the many issues that have made headlines this week, asides our usual and unfortunate insecurity issue that we are fast becoming accustomed to.

Like many issues in the country: the country has been polarised into two or more camps. Some have argued that the splitting of the Emirate into five Emirates of: Kano, Rano, Bichi, Gaya  and Karaye is in recourse to history and realities. Some others have perceived the move as being politically motivated, which the Government of Kano: represented by the State Governor and the House of Assembly had vehemently denied.

Whichever divide you pitch your tent, we must all remember and drink from the wisdom of the elders in Yorubaland which say: oba mewa igba mewa, aye duro lailai (ten Kings, ten Kingdoms, life continues in eternity). What this means is that we will all leave this world one day, while the world will continue to exist literally.

The elders in my part of the world also say: aje ke lana, omo ku lo ni, ta ni o mo pe aje ana lo pa omoje ( i.e the witch cried yesterday, the child died today, who doesn't know it's the witch who killed the child?

There is no denying the fact that His Royal Highness, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is a very outspoken person who speaks the truth to power no matter whose ox is gored, even though demands of his office demands that he should be temperate. The truth however is that very few people can keep quiet in the face of obvious disquiet in the spirit about what is seemed to be wrong; yet, the call of his office demands that he should be non-committal as far as political issues are concerned. Thus, even when he has spoken in honour of the masses who he leads, it's easier for it to be perceived as speaking for the opposition.

Be that as it may, here lies the lesson for our religious and traditional leaders to stay off politics, not because they fear men in power but because the demands of their offices request so. The open criticism of politicians can only make them and their offices come under disrepute.

Notwithstanding, dividing the Emirate for political gains as being perceived in some quarters is one that is unbecoming of a good leader. Unfortunately, politics in Nigeria is a do or die affairs which demands tooth for tooth, teeth for teeth. It's 'ti adiye ba da mi ni ogun nu, emi na a fo leyin' (i.e 'if a hen pour my juju away, I will break his eggs').

The Law of Moses rather than Jesus Law is the rule of thumb as far as Nigeria politics is concerned. Hence, its precariousness. Unfortunately, it's one of the undoings of our country today.

One day, posterity will be the judge of the present protagonists and antagonists of this nebulous moment in our history, and one day, generations born and unborn will read about it.

God bless Nigeria!
God bless Africa!!
God bless the World!!!